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Union County Veterans Resources

Union County

About: Founded in 1853, Union County was named in support of the North during the Civil War. The Union County Fair takes place in the city of Afton and includes tractor pulls, a demolition derby and a rodeo. For leisure, visitors can head to Green Valley State Park or catch fish at Three-Mile Lake. As a Home Base Community since November 2014, Union County has a strong commitment to veteran job placement, health care and education.

Union County - Veteran Director

County service offices assist veterans with compensation/pensions, medical care, military records, grave markers and veteran home loans. Some counties may also have dedicated funds to assist with temporary shelter/utilities, food/health supplies, medical/dental, job placement, counseling and transportation. To learn more, visit theUnion County Veterans Office.

The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, with the support of citizens, recognizes and honors Iowa’s veterans and their families by providing the highest quality programs, services and benefits. Each of Iowa’s 99 counties has a Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and a county director. Veterans may wish to utilize the county office as the first point of contact.

Creston IowaWORKS Center Information

IowaWORKS Centers are committed to providing quality employment services to all military service members and their spouses. All veterans and their spouse may be eligible for priority service. Please let a team member know upon check-in of your veteran status. IowaWORKS Centers provide a full range of job/career assistance. Individual services include:

Career counseling and job search skills development

Help locating employment and Registered Apprenticeship opportunities

Academic skill testing and hands-on computer classes

Creating resumes/cover letters and interview preparation

Please visit or contact the Creston IowaWORKS Center for more information:

Iowa National Guard Family Services

The Warrior & Family Services Branch is a Joint Force initiative that provides assistance to all military families, regardless of branch or component, who find themselves beyond the support capability of active duty military facilities or their home units. The Warrior & Family Services Branch acts as a network that allows families to mutually support one another. By providing families with information, resources and support, the program strengthens both the unit and service members. To learn more about these services, visit Warrior & Family Services.

Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR)

The Iowa ESGR team is comprised of approximately 106 dedicated volunteers and three full-time staff members prepared to engage, inform and support employers and reserve component members throughout the state. Iowa has a proud history of outstanding employer support for reserve component members. Today’s team continues this tradition through a strong emphasis on “prevention through education.” To learn more about these services, visit the Iowa ESGR.

Non-Profit Veteran Support Organizations

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, war-time veteran organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is a community-service organization which has reached nearly three million members, men and women at almost 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide. These posts are organized into 55 departments -- one for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines. The American Legion's national headquarters is in Indianapolis, with additional offices in Washington, D.C. The American Legion Department of Iowa is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The Department Service Office is located in the Federal Building in Des Moines, with an additional office located in the VA Medical Center in Iowa City. Visit the Iowa Legion or email: info@ialegion.org.

Labor Market Information & Future Ready Iowa

The Workforce Needs Assessment survey is an annual employer survey conducted by Iowa Workforce Development. Employers are asked to provide information regarding both their current level of employment and their current and expected job vacancies. The goal of the survey is to collect data regarding the demand for workers and the skills required of workers, both statewide and regionally. You can search for and view the Laborshed Report by city or county.

For additional help on determining career opportunities in Iowa, visit the Future Ready Iowa website. The site connects job seekers to tools for finding education, training and jobs. It uses Labor Market Information to identify the number of jobs, the average median income and what training is required within a geographically determined distance from the job seeker.

Website features include: Iowa's Career Coach, Career Exploration, Education and Training Opportunities, Financial Resources and Finding a Job

Union County Business Partners

Home Base Iowa (HBI) Businesses are the centerpiece of the HBI effort. Veterans who have served and are looking for a career in Iowa can research any of the over 1,200 HBI Businesses. Each business has committed to hiring transitioning service members and veterans for semi-skilled and skilled positions in Iowa.

Many of these businesses actively attend job fairs to recruit veterans. Based on an Iowa Business Council report, the program has already provided over 2,000 jobs for veterans. HBI businesses also provide donations to assist with marketing efforts. View HBI Job Openings throughout the state and HBI businesses in Union County.

An Introduction to CHAMPs

Iowa provides qualified veterans, their spouses and dependents in-state tuition at Iowa's colleges and universities. Certified Higher Academic Military Partners (CHAMPs) offer premium higher education incentives. In order for institutions to become a CHAMPs partner, at least nine out of 12 criteria in three categories must be met. Categories include transitional considerations, financial considerations and on-campus resources. These higher learning centers often offer on-campus support, consistent credit for military courses and provide special financial considerations. View a full list and learn more about all CHAMPs institutions in Iowa.

*There are currently no CHAMPs partners in this county. Please check surrounding communities or CHAMPs partners offering online programs.*